Valve



H. T. KRAFT VALVE Filed Sept. 21. 1925v Jan. .13, 1927. 1,615,016

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ArINVENTOR frman [KafL ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1927.v

UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN T. KRAFT, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBERi COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

VALVE.

Application filed September 21, 1925. Serial No. 57,782.

My invention relates to valves and it has particular relation to fluidor gas valves adapted to be employed in connection with balloons orairships in which a lifting gas constitutes the buoyant power.

One object of my invention is to provide a gas valve which is composedof relatively light weight material and which is especially constructedto prevent the closure elementsthereof from becoming displaced when thevalve is closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a gas valve which isadapted for use in controlling the gas pressure within various types oflighter-than-air craft and which includes an improved valve closingmechanism adapted to maintain a uniform contact between the closureelements of the valve when the latter is closed.

In the construction of valves ofthe above designated character whichhave been heretofore manufactured, difficulty has been encountered inproviding `yieldable closing mechanisms which possessed the desiredqualities of lightness in weight and sim` plicity of operation and, atthe same time. were capable of functioning properly under variousconditions of aerial navigation. Generally, balloon valves haveheretofore U been constructed of two major annular members, one of whichwas connected to the balloon envelope and provided with some form ofspring operated mechanism for drawing the other annular member intogas-tight engagement therewith. diaphragms have been employedforcovering the circular plane portion of the annu* lar members.

It is the aim of my invention to provide a novel and improved means fordrawing together the annular members of gas valves, and also to providea device which will at all times maintain such annular members in properalignment with each other. To this end I have provided aligned hingemembers and an endless elastic cord, the latter of which is trainedabout the periphery of one of the annular members and is formed withloops which engage the closing member of the valve at regular intervals.A cord of this 'nature permits vuniform contact of the valve closingelements, and is so arranged that adjustments may be made to accommodatevarious degrees of gas pressure. I .have also provided a novel Metalfabric diaphragm for one of the annular members which obviates the useof the heavier metal which has heretofore been used.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may now be had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, ofwhich- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a valve embodying my invention,and illustrating the operating parts thereof in opened position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the valve shown in Fig.1 on an enlarged scale showing in detail the principal features of myinvention; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in detail the structureof an elastic cord employed in my invention. Y

In practicing my invention I have incorporated the features thereof in avalve which includes a composite annular member 10 and a cooperatingaxially aligned ring 1l which is axially movable with respect to theannular member. In order to provide a gas-tight engagement with aballoon envelope 12, I have provided upon the annular member 10, twolaminated hard wood rings 13 and 14, of substantially the same`diameter7 which are adapted to receive the fabric envelope of theballoon therebetween in clamping relationship. The ring 13 is providedwith bolts 15 secured at their lower ends rigidly in the ring by meansof pinsl. The other ends of the bolts 15 are adapted to extend throughthe ring 14 and are threaded for the purpose of receiving wing nuts 17which firmly clampV the edgel of the envelope 12 between the rings.

f An annular member 18 issecured `to the inner periphery of the ring 13by means of bolts or screws 19, and is of such aXiat `width that oneedge thereof extends be yond the clamping ring la. Reinforcing braces 2Oare disposed diametrically at right angles to each other across the topof the annular member 18.

Adjacent the top of the annular member 18, I have provided a series ofregularly spaced pairs of small openings. 22 adapted to Yreceive anendless elastic cord 23, which extends over the edges of the annularmem-- ber 18. The portionsof the cord extending over the edgesof theannular member are formed into loops 24 which are trained over rollers25 'rotatably fmounted upon radially inwardly extending brackets`26secured to the inner periphery of the annular member 18. The`brackets.26.areeach provided with a journal bolt 27 for supporting theroller 25 and are also provided with securing bolts 28 extending throughthe annular member 18. The purpose of the brackets 26 and rollers is topreventthe elastic cord vfrom frictionally engaging the surface of thering` 18 while the valve is being opened or closed.

The loops 2aof the cords extend downwardly and extend through openingsat the ends of-brackets 29, each of which is formed with a shank 3()e.\;tending'throughthe ring 11. The brackets are held in place by meansof nuts -32 threaded upon the outer end thereof.

It will be observed that the openings in the brackets 29 are sufdcientlylargetopen mit the cord 23 to slip freely therethrough in order that thevarious loops of the cord may be adjusted fto exert a uniform 'force`upon the ring 11. The loops are provided with clips 33 which preventslipping of the cord after adjustment has'been made.

As best shown in Fig. 2. the elastic cord 23 is composed of anextensible fabric sheath 3st which incloses a plurality of rubberstrands 35. lf desirable, a smallerl fabric sheath 3G may be inclosedwithin the sheath 34; and embedded among the rubber strands. Sinceitheextensibility ofthe fabric sheets 34 and 3G is limited7 they serve toprevent excessive stretching of the rubber strands and therebyprolongthelife thereof.

A plurality of connectiiig hinge members 37 are disposed at regularlyspaced interyvals within the periphery of the annular member '18 and aremounted upon brackets 38 secured to the inner periphery of the annularmember 18 by means of bolts As all of the hinge members are ident-icalin structure, itis only necessary7 to describe'onc of them in detail. Asbest shown in Figf2, the bracket 38 is formed with ears l() adapted tosupport a triangular rocking member 42 provided with openings Ll1, and,pivoted upon a bolt 413 secured in the ears 40. The rock` able memberhas Vrigidly secured thereto an arm tl of the hingemember 37. Anotherarm --is pivotal/ly secured to the end of the arm est to'form an elbowjoint.as indicated at 4G, andis connected at theother rend'to a vbracketLlsecured'to the lower ring 11. Conventional bolts i8 secure thebracketlto the ring 11 and a bolt L19 pivotally'supports theend'oftheariii 15. ltiwill be observed thattwo corners 50 andi52'of thetriangular member 412, are adapted to engagethebracket38. Thustheoperati'on of the hinge 37 is limitedV in both directions of axialmove mentof the 'rings ltl'and l1, which serves to stabilize therings inproper position, and prevents A"them I'from vbecoming ""'clfis'placedSince the degree ofseparation of the annular member 10-and the ring 11is controlled by the hinge-members 37, this separation may be varied byadjusting itherockinginember L12 by meansof mountingithe bolt L13 in anyof the openings 41.

The lower hard-wood ring 11 is formed with a concentric groove 54 and isadapted to receive therein-a rubber annulus 553, which serves .thefunction of providing a gas-tight closure between the rings V11and 13.'The lower `partof the 'ring 11 is grovided withv a flexible diaphragm56 composed of balloon fabric or similar material impervious vtolgas,which is secured by means of a ring 57 and screws 58 elai'nping "thediaphragm -of the ring 11.

Areinforcing metal ring 59 encircles the ring 11 and is secured theretoby means of the bracket bolt 30. This metal'ring extends below the ring10 and is provided with a plurality of openingsf il() ladapted toreceive loops 62 of a valve operating cord'or cable 63.

From the foregoingdescription, it will be apparent thatfthe valvemechanism comprising my invention'has many vimlvantages such assimplicity of construction and operation and that the probability ofdisplacement of any of the* operating` parts is reduced to a minimum.lilanipulation of the cables or cords63 to separate the valve rings `11and 13 is yieldably resisted bythe elastic cords 23 and the hingemembers 37, in conjunction with the cords, maintain'theannular membersof the valve in direct axial alignment. Upon releasel ofthe cableGfiifthe elastic cords dra-w the ringllltoward'the ring 13 until therubber annulus'-effects a vsealing cngagement against theV ring 13.

Although llhave illustrated but one form which myinvention vmay assumevand have described in detailbut a single application thereof, it willbe apparent'to those skilled in the art that it is not solimited butthat various minor modifications and changes may be matletherein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

That I claim is:

1. A valve mechanism comprising two cooperating annular members. one ofsaid members being composed of wood, and a reinforcing band secured tothe last named member.

2. A valve mechanism comprising two cooperating annula'rmemberaone ofsaid members being composed of `woothand a metal reinforcingband'secined to one of said members.

A-valve mechanism comprising two cooperating annular members one Vof`said members being formed of laminated hard wo0d,an"d a reinforcingbandsecured tothe outer' peripheryvoffonef offlsaid members.

Ilo

a. A balloon valve comprising two annular members composed of laminatedfibrous material, a reinforcing band on one of said members, and afabric diaphragm secured to one of said members.

5. A balloon valve comprising two annular members composed of fibrousmaterial, a metal band surrounding one of said members, a continuousmember extending substantially circumferentially of the annular membersand alternately engaging the latter to draw them together.

6. A valve mechanism comprising two annular members, and an elastic cordengaging the annular members at intervals and tending to maintain thevalve closed.

7. A Valve mechanism comprising two annular members, and a continuouselastic cord engaging the annular members at uniformly spaced intervals.

8. A valve mechanism comprising two annular members, and a continuouselastic cord secured to the annular members at spacedv intervals, saidcord being adjustable to maintain uniform pressure between thecontacting parts of the valve.

9. A balloon valve comprising two annular members, one of said membersbeing adapted to be connected to the envelope of a balloon, and acontinuous elastic cord provided with loops passing through spacedopenings formed in one of the annular members, the loops being connectedto the other annular member of the valve.

10. A balloon valve comprising two annular members, a continuous elasticcord formed with loops connected at intervals adjacent the periphery ofone of the members, means for connecting'the loops to the other annularmember and means for adjusting the cord with respect to the annularmembers to maintain uniform contact between the valve engaging parts.

l1. A balloon valve comprising two annular members, a continuous cordsecured adjacent the periphery of one of the members and connected atintervals to the other member, and brackets carrying rollers engagingthe cord secured to the inner periphery of one of the members.

12. A closing mechanism for balloon valves comprising a continuouselastic cord secured at intervals to the valve parts, the elastic cordand valve being adjustable relative to each other to maintain constantpressure at all points of contact between engag? ing parts of the valvewhen the same is closed.

13. A balloon valve comprising two annular members, a continuous elasticcord engaging the members at intervals and tending to maintain them inclosed relationship, spaced hinge members connecting the annularmembers, and a rocking member provided at one end of each elbow member,and means for limiting the rocking movement of the latter.

14. A valve mechanism adapted to be secured to the envelope of aballoon, comprising a supporting member, an annular member cooperatingtherewith, a reinforcing metalband surrounding the annular member, acontinuous elastic cord connected at intervals to the annular member andto the supporting member and hinge means for limiting the rockingmovement of the rocking members.

l5. A balloon valve comprising an annu lar member adapted to be securedto a balloon envelope, a circular member adapted to engage said annularmember to effect a sealing engagement therewith, and a plurality ofhinge members connecting said members, each Aof said hinge members beingadapted to permit movement Iin one plane only and being mounted so as topermit movement in an axially extending radial plane only.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HERMAN T. KRAFT.

